The first year of Zhengli in the State of Bei, March.
In the dense forest outside the capital, dead trees stood desolate, and the wind howled bitterly.
Jun Ning gripped her long spear, its tail deeply embedded in the blood-soaked earth. She forced herself to swallow the metallic taste rising in her throat, sitting alone on a bloodstained stone block, her gaze sharp and fierce as she stared down the soldiers surrounding her. Her silver armor was already shattered, blood seeping through the cracks. Though gravely wounded, none of the imperial guards dared to approach.
The reason was simple: the man who had charged first now lay lifeless, his throat pierced by Jun Ning’s spear.
The firelight illuminated her pale yet strikingly heroic face.
Suddenly, the guards parted to make way. Jun Ning lifted her head, and when she saw the newcomer, her eyes filled only with disdain.
The woman wore a brocade jacket, her figure graceful—it was her half-sister, Jun Qingnian.
Jun Qingnian held a scented handkerchief to her nose, her delicate face brimming with smug delight. “Little sister, just look at yourself now. How pitiful you are.”
“In my view, you should stop struggling. The guards are here under orders. Your mission is complete. His Majesty says it’s time for you to quietly disappear.”
“Where is Xiao Yunjie? Let him come see me.”
Jun Ning ignored her sister completely. At her words, the guards roared in outrage: “Impudent! How dare a mere woman speak His Majesty’s name aloud!”
Jun Ning suddenly burst into laughter, as though she had heard the greatest joke in the world. Her sharp gaze swept across everyone present, forcing them to retreat under its icy weight.
She cried out in fury: “Xiao Yunjie’s path to the throne was paved with my blood! His life was saved by me! Emperor? Without the Zhennan Army, what kind of emperor is he?”
“Xiao Yunjie! You ungrateful bastard! You slaughtered thirty thousand of my soldiers…”
Abruptly, an arrow sliced through the air, whistling past the guards.
*Thud.*
The sound of arrow piercing flesh rang out.
Jun Ning looked down in shock. A shaft engraved with the character *Ning* was buried deep in her chest.
Blood spilled endlessly from her lips. Yet she seemed numb to the pain, clutching the arrow with her right hand.
This arrow was one she had crafted herself, gifted to Xiao Yunjie. They had sworn: when he became emperor, she would be his only empress, the arrow their vow.
But now, it was used to end her life.
The boy she had rescued from the cold palace that winter was gone. He had grown into an ambitious wolf.
Jun Ning’s eyes burned red as she laughed madly, staring toward the shadowy figure in the distance. She forced herself upright with her spear, standing tall one last time. The guards immediately raised their weapons, tense and ready.
Her face was pale as paper, her eyes filled with shattered resolve.
“Xiao Yunjie, you betrayed me. You sent men to kill me—I could forgive that. But what you should never have done was sacrifice the lives of my Zhennan Army to pave your filthy road to the throne.”
Every word she spoke tore at her soul, the arrow through her heart making each breath agony.
Once a female general who rivaled any man, Jun Ning had now fallen to such a tragic fate that none present could bear to watch.
She was only twenty-one years old.
“Xiao Yunjie… in this life, it was my blindness… If there is another life… cough… I, Jun Ning, will personally… destroy your imperial path…”
Jun Qingnian’s eyes widened in shock. She had never imagined Jun Ning would dare to speak such words. Furious, she ordered the guards: “Jun Ning is treasonous! She still dares to stand and speak! Break her legs at once!”
But silence fell. Not a single soldier obeyed the concubine’s command.
Every man present had his own bottom line. A soldier may be killed, but not humiliated. By imperial decree, they were bound to kill Jun Ning—but as soldiers, they knew she was the true general in the hearts of all men of Bei. How could a palace concubine insult her?
To her dying breath, Jun Ning never bent her spine. Born the only legitimate daughter of Earl Pingkang, she was Bei’s once-in-a-century female general. Even in death, she carried her pride.
In the shadows, where Jun Ning’s fading gaze was fixed, stood Xiao Yunjie in dragon robes. His hand, once gripping the bow, fell limp. A single tear slid down his handsome face.
“Ah Ning, do not blame me. The Grand Tutor said I need a virtuous and gentle empress. Ah Ning, you are too clever—so clever that even I fear you.”
“If there is a next life, Ah Ning… I will give you the promise of a lifetime together.”
“Spread the decree: General Jun Ning was assassinated and died of her wounds. I grieve deeply. Posthumously honor her as Supreme General, with the title Huaiyou.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A cold wind rose, and the moonlight suddenly brightened.
Xiao Yunjie looked up. The round moon had already climbed high into the dark sky. He could not see that, not far away, a transparent figure was slowly fading into nothingness.